Two Vehicle Inspection Department data capturer clerks have been arrested for allegedly defrauding the state of over USD 1 million in a sophisticated licensing scam that saw approximately 500 unqualified individuals obtain learner’s licences and Certificates of Competency without undergoing mandatory tests.
Tinotenda Maningi and Chrison Chipanda appeared before the Harare Magistrate Court on 30 July 2026 and were remanded in custody until 4 August 2026.
The two allegedly operated with accomplices, Ebenezzer Zvidza and Emmanuel Mushonga, who remain at large.
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) investigations revealed that the suspects manipulated the VID computerised licensing system to fraudulently issue documents to individuals who had never sat for competency tests.
“It was established that the accused persons unlawfully accessed and manipulated electronic user accounts belonging to other VID officers to process and authorise fraudulent transactions, thereby concealing their identities and compromising audit trails,” said ZACC in statement.
The court heard that the suspects generated fake official payment receipts falsely indicating that statutory licensing fees had been paid into Government accounts, while instead channelling the money into their own pockets.
“Instead of directing applicants to pay through official Government channels, the accused solicited and received bribes ranging from US$200 to over US$500 per applicant,” ZACC revealed.
Investigations further uncovered that the accused worked with accomplices at the Central Vehicle Registry to facilitate the fraudulent processing of documents.
“A significant number of beneficiaries were reportedly foreign nationals,” the commission said.